Betsch Tilmann, Jäckel Paul, Hammes Mareike, Brinkmann Babette Julia
University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany.
Department of Psychology, University of Erfurt, Nordhäuser Strasse 63, D-99089, Erfurt, Germany.
Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2021 Jun;55(2):318-328. doi: 10.1007/s12124-020-09594-5. Epub 2021 Jan 19.
Ten female and five male participants (age range 28-50 years) were recruited at esoteric fairs or via esoteric chatrooms. In a guided face-to-face interview, they reported origins and contents of their beliefs in e.g. esoteric practices, supernatural beings, rebirthing, channeling. Transcripts of the tape-recorded reports were subjected to a qualitative analysis. Exhaustive categorization of the narratives' content revealed that paranormal beliefs were functional with regard to two fundamental motives - striving for mastery and valuing me and mine (striving for a positive evaluation of the self). Moreover, paranormal beliefs paved the way for goal-setting and leading a meaningful life but, on the negative side, could also result in social exclusion. Results are discussed with reference to the adaptive value of paranormal beliefs.
通过神秘学展会或神秘学聊天室招募了10名女性和5名男性参与者（年龄在28至50岁之间）。在一次有引导的面对面访谈中，他们讲述了自己在神秘学实践、超自然生物、再生、通灵等方面信仰的起源和内容。对录音报告的文字记录进行了定性分析。对这些叙述内容的详尽分类显示，超自然信仰在两个基本动机方面发挥了作用——追求掌控以及重视自我和与自己相关的事物（力求对自我进行积极评价）。此外，超自然信仰为目标设定和过有意义的生活铺平了道路，但负面的是，它也可能导致社会排斥。文中结合超自然信仰的适应性价值对研究结果进行了讨论。
